Expedition Reports

'Shark Infested Waters ... Priceless'

Part SUV. Part Boat. Part Captain Jim & Crew = 100% Fishing Machine.

It’s spring and water temperatures are creeping up to the 80-degree mark, making it favorable to get in some good old-fashioned shark fishing; this time, from the deck of a boat. After all, who doesn’t love the smell of a chum slick as it glistens in the moonlight?

This expedition would also give us the opportunity to re-map a location where we sometimes target large shark species from the beach. We haven’t mapped it since August of 2005, and we’ve had some real pullers hang us up in recent weeks, while fishing it from the sand. Our suspicions were the sandbar structures off the beach had moved and / or changed, as a result of the bitchy weather we had most of last season. Short of diving them, this was the best and safest way to find out for sure. We geared up, met Captain Jim at his headquarters around 6 and headed for the launch. From there, it was a short ride to the hunting grounds.



Headed for the slick

Haven't even shot the jetty yet. Could that be what we're looking for ... already? ... ... ... ... ... Got Ya!


We'd have to work a little harder than that. It's the other big buy in the gray suit.

Tough neighborhood

Conditions were breezy out of the S/SW, but it was mostly a wind chop predicted to lie down through the evening. We didn’t plan on heading home till the sun was good and hot so we were good to go.


On the way out, we spotted a mackerel bust mentioned in previous reports. We dragged some spoons en route, but all in all, the sunset chew was over and out. We had a huge ladyfish grab a spoon, and almost boated it. Other than that, only some smallish jacks came calling. No loss. We were well stocked with plenty of recently frozen goodies so away we went. Fishing grounds, dead ahead.
By the time we arrived at ‘Shark Alley’, there was just enough light left to get our bearings. Our structural theory was quickly confirmed. The second bar was slightly further offshore and markedly higher than previously noted. Although, the first bar was approximately 75 yards off the beach and noticeable, due to surface breaks or rougher water, depending on the tides, the second bar was much further out and always deeper, making it harder to pin down. The resulting gut between the first and second was now nearly 150 yards wide, ending with a depth on the front side of the second bar (facing the beach) of approximately 16 feet. This face rises 11 feet to the peak (about 5 feet below the surface) then drops on the outside to nearly 20 feet. This is prime structure for holding plenty of bait that attracts a variety of healthy, large predator species. The active readings we saw on the depth finder proved this to be absolutely certain. There were several huge fish swimming just beneath our feet. Our jaws dropped and the drool flowed. This was a rare chance to get a strategic perspective for dropping baits from a kayak in this location. Now, we could keep baits safely tucked on the inside of the first bar, virtually preventing the type of hang-ups we had experienced recently. A shark hooking up on the outside of that bar has the pronounced advantage of digging in its heels. If it's determined in this strategy, the only realistic chance you have is to give it enough slack (hopefully not too much) to coax it off the bar and get it moving again. If this works, and the fish runs shallower, you'll get the chance to work it up and over into gut, past the shallow grade of the first bar, and onto the beach. However, the chances of that slack time providing an opportunity for a spit hook run high. We know first hand.

Hanging out ... and hung up one week earlier.
With our intel gathered, we pulled into the deeper, wider gut outside the second bar, and anchored up to start slicking and rigging. The plan was to drift suspended baits back to the outside face of the bar and get in a good workout. Big Bertha (a Penn 12/0) was the first to go over the side with a double-rigged mackerel. In hot pursuit was Large Marge (another 12/0) and a comparable bait. These would be drifted on the outriggers. For some light tackle variety, we also ran a chunk on the 9500 between the riggers and another chunk straight down on a 50.


One bodacious set of ... balloons.
This is the first drop of the night -- usually the time of highest anticipation on any shark hunt. The sun had just set, we were marking big fish, the area was awash with bait -- life was perfect and about to get better. Right after I tossed my offering over the side and was feeding out the leader, just off the transom next to the motor, the water erupted and my line streaked off to the port side where Jim was still spooling out line on his reel through the outrigger. Balloons were popping, water was splashing and we were scrambing like a bunch of seniors on prom night. Just as I get my 12/0 in hand and start applying drag, the strike alarm goes silent. For a second or two, hopes run high that it’s heading back to starboard, but it’s not to be. The bait was dropped. Needless to say, we were pretty damn excited about the evening’s prospects. Other than tossing baits to sighted sharks around a boat, that’s the first time we’ve had a rig blindly picked off that quick and that close. Large Marge was promptly redressed and sent back to the slick. Not that we needed any, but that shot of adrenalin lasted a good long time. The rest of the night proved to be an interesting one from start to finish, and little did we know a big surprise waited for us on the other side.

Recreating the classic attack posture. The way this little guy assaulted Jim's mackerel near the surface assured us he's got a bright future ahead of him. First shark of the night (juvenile male blacktip) landed and released.
PULL STILL FROM VIDEO & INSERT HERE NURSE SHARK. ESTIMATED LENGHT: 11 FEET
Not long after that little blacktip stole our bait, Jim gets a solid run on his 12. It was on the starboard outrigger and placed closest to the outside face of the second bar. This fish pulled briefly then ran at us. Brooks lit it up, and at first glance, we thought it was a monster lemon, but turned out to be a nurse; one of the biggest we've seen in some time. This fish was a good candidate for a tag so we proceeded to muscle it into position, but it wanted none of that. I worked the leader while Jim attempted a tail rope. With a lemon, we would've had a better shot at a lip gaff to help subdue the beast, but with the nurse's mouth being a much smaller target, and this fish's gyrations, that wasn't an option. After a brief, but exciting tussle, the hook came free and the nurse was on it's way. This was one healthy specimen with a girth that had to be pushing 5 feet. We'll get some stills pulled and posted as soon as we can. So far, Jim and Big Bertha were seeing all the action, but the night was young. Second shark of the night (nurse not sexed) caught and released.

Sushi? Lucky, for this little girl, Jim brought some sandwiches. It was high time to drift the baits closer to the outside face of the 2nd bar and hopefully away from these little cruisers. Third shark of the night (juvenile blacktip not sexed) landed and released.

And, while we're at it, we'd try some bigger baits. This bonito, caught while trolling 2 weeks prior, was going under the knife and into the ring.

After soaking that bonita's head for several hours with no activity, it was decided to check and probably swap the bait. At boatside, we had this little surprise. She hooked up and kept her mouth shut -- didn't even pull a balloon enough to get our attention. The hookset was down and around the lower jaw, which pretty much immobilized her. Good thing we checked the bait when we did or she would've either expired or became monster food. More perfect table-sized meat, but not tonight. Fourth shark of the night (juvenile female blacktip) landed and released.
The rest of the night was peppered with runs, some big hits, completely stripped baits (lucky dogs), and a lengthy light tackle fight for Brooks on the 9500 set with chunk bait. I was napping on the transom when that rig took off to the north without any signs of stopping. Brooks came topside while Jim was just seeing the fish slow -- a little bit. Then it rocketed off to the SW just past the transom. Brooks saw a healthy white flank as it passed us. After about 10 minutes he had it slowed down. Once again, a little bit. Suddenly, it ran straight at the boat. Brooks ate up the slack like a pro, but it was too late. All we got back was a naked hook. That could've been a record fish on 20# test, but we'll never know. It's the kind of loss that gets you coming back for me. And we weren't complaining. Mother Nature was good to us and she wasn't done yet. We reset the 9500, checked on the spread and I stretched out again on the transom. The eastern sky was just showing signs of life. A short while later, I hear Jim on the bow throwing plastic. Then, he recommended, strongly, that we turn the boat over and start trolling. The surface was erupting EVERYWHERE. He wasn't kidding. It sounded like a surf break all around the boat. When stood and looked around, the morning feed was just starting and we had ourselves a full house. Within 20 minutes, we had the boat switched from sharkin' to trollin'. The 5-spread was ready. I took the helm, looked around, realized there was no difference which direction I went, set 1400 RPM's and headed off to the N/NW. At first we didn't realize it, but then it dawned on us there was no one out here yet. It was like we had the entire gulf playground to ourselves and we were ready to play. It didn't take long for us to get into the kind of action, we'd been spoiled with over the past several weeks. Only this time, there were even more fish and they were BIGGER. Some of the fattest and longest mackerel I've ever caught. Plus: kings, ladyfish, bluefish, jacks, bonito. This was insane. We couldn't believe it. It was as if we woke up in a Zane Grey novel. Must be some more payback for the last 2 years. The non-stop action went on for nearly 90 minutes. Along the way, we saw some unbelievable things including 2 breaching manta rays, providing further proof the environment was at peak performance levels. Nonetheless, we were low on ice and the box was filling fast so Jim called it around 9 when things seemed to slow down. Then, just as quickly, the surface looked like a big vat of popping corn. Soon after, we were seeing rocketing kingfish on a regular basis ... and hooking up! We agreed with Jim that, "We couldn't leave fish like this." So we ran some more till about 9:30. By then, the rest of the fleet was just getting out. Everyone promised that no matter what we saw on the way in, we weren't stopping. I'm pretty sure all three of us had our fingers crossed whem that deal went down.

What?



We can't just keep feeding the sharks. Jim can work some serious magic with a smoker so we had to sacrifice at least a few for the table.

The fish box was bigger than we thought.


Brooks & Frisco give the bait stash an all-important sniff test that passes with flying colors.
Not every trip is like this and we don't take it for granted, but we always take full advantage. We got to play with the sharks, restock on bait, put some meat in the belly, see some incredible sights, and once again, spend time with close friends, family and fellow anglers. We're crossing our rods the rest of the year shines on us like it has so far. Click here for additional 2006 offshore reports.


Captain Jim does run select charters. If you're ever in the area and want to hunt some fish, you can reach our good friend and club member via email on the contact page or at the number listed above. Take it from us, you won't be disappointed. This guy knows how to raise 'em.

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